Miscellaneous pieces, written in A.D. 1381 in England

File

MS. Douce 257

Held at the Weston Library

Comprises:

(fol. 1) The Algorismus of Johannes de Sacro Bosco: at end, 'Explicit Algorismus': an arithmetical treatise.
(fol. 18) The Massa Compoti of Alexander de Villa Dei: a poetical treatise on the ecclesiastical calendar, here with a prose prologue and commentary: at end, 'Explicit Massa Compoti. Anno Domini mlo CCCmo octogesimo primo ipso die Felicis & Andacti', Aug. 30, 1381. At fols. 62v, 81v follow some calendarial rules, etc., including the Cisio Janus: cf. fol. 83 (de fortuna nascentium').
(fol. 70v) 'Liber cautelarum septem scientiarum' (grammar fol. 71, logic ? fol. 78v, etc.), in verse and prose: beg. 'Quia de multis aliorum.' The title is from the prologue: some experiments, if not the whole work, are by 'Johannes Pauli' (fols. 81, 81v): at fol. 77 are some English rhymes, cf. 99v: the treatise also contains curious tricks, recipes for cooking (' de coquina') in English (fol. 86), an exorcism, etc. Fols. 98, 99 are injured. Douce has appended a detailed account of the MS., see also the catalogue of 1840.

'Costat m' Brymston' (late 15th cent.?, fol. 99v).

Dates

103 Leaves

MS. Douce 257

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, no 21831

Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. Douce.

On parchment

7 1/2 × 5 5/8 in.

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

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